Modification induced by laser irradiation on physical features of plastics materials filled with nanoparticles

¹ Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C.da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy
² Dept. of MIFT, University of Messina, V.le F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
³ Dept. of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via Plebiscito 628, 95124, Catania, Italy
⁴ Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici CNR –IPCF, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 37 - 98158 MESSINA

^* Corresponding author: cscolaro@unime.it

Published online: 9 January 2018

Abstract

The Thermal Laser Welding (TLW) process involves localized heating at the interface of two pieces of plastic that will be joined. Polymeric materials of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), both pure and containing nanostructures at different concentrations (titanium and silver nanoparticles), were prepared as thin foils in order to produce an interface between a substrate transparent to the infrared laser wavelength and an highly absorbent substrate, in order to be welded by the laser irradiation. The used diode laser operates at 970 nm wavelength, in continuum, with a maximum energy of 100 mJ, for times of the order of 1 -60 s, with a spot of 300 μm of diameter. The properties of the polymers and of nanocomposite sheets, before and after the laser welding process, were measured in terms of optical characteristics, wetting ability, surface roughness and surface morphology.